New Delhi, August 2026 : New rules governing the number of mobile connections an individual can hold in India came into effect on Monday, with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) directing telecom operators to prevent customers from obtaining SIM cards beyond the prescribed limit.
Under the new framework, telecom companies have been instructed to identify subscribers who have already reached the maximum permissible number of mobile connections and inform them that no additional SIM card can be issued in their name.
The system will initially function on a post-facto verification basis. This means telecom operators may activate a new connection and subsequently verify whether the subscriber has crossed the permitted limit. If an additional connection is found to have been issued beyond the prescribed ceiling, it must be suspended immediately until the issue is resolved.
However, the DoT has directed telecom service providers to transition to real-time verification by November 30, 2026. The move is intended to ensure that applications for new mobile connections are checked against existing subscriber records before activation.
According to the DoT directions, an individual can hold a maximum of nine mobile connections across all telecom operators and licensed service areas in the country. A lower limit of six connections will apply to subscribers in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and the North-Eastern states.
The latest measures are aimed at strengthening the monitoring of mobile connections and preventing misuse of telecom resources. By creating a system that tracks the total number of connections held by an individual across different operators, authorities expect to improve oversight and reduce the possibility of fraudulent or unauthorised use of SIM cards.
The DoT has also introduced additional identification measures. Representative images of subscribers who have already reached the maximum permitted limit will be made available on the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) from August 23, 2026. Telecom operators will be required to download these images daily to assist in identifying individuals applying for additional mobile connections.
The new instructions also require applicants to provide a declaration in the Customer Application Form (CAF) detailing the mobile connections already registered in their name across telecom operators and licensed service areas.
The DoT has clarified that the respective Licensed Service Areas (LSAs) will serve as the competent authorities for deciding issues arising from the implementation of the new rules.
The shift towards real-time verification is expected to make the SIM issuance process more stringent and ensure that telecom operators comply with the prescribed limits while strengthening safeguards around mobile subscriber identities.
